Profile of Indian Agriculture and Agricultural Marketing - Class IX

As an economy develops, the share of agriculture in GDP typically declines while the share of industry and services increases. This is a standard structural transformation pattern in economic development.

With economic growth, the composition of exports shifts away from primary agricultural products toward manufactured goods and services. Consequently, the relative share of agricultural exports in total exports tends to decrease.

At the time of independence, India's export basket was heavily dependent on primary commodities and raw materials, including tea, jute, and cotton textiles.

A significant portion of India's agricultural land lacks access to reliable irrigation infrastructure, making it heavily dependent on monsoon rainfall.

Engel's Law suggests that as income rises, the proportion of income spent on food (agricultural products) falls, while demand for industrial goods and services rises.

The Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2007-2012) set an ambitious target of 4% annual growth for the agricultural sector to ensure inclusive growth.

Agriculture is generally considered labor-intensive rather than capital-intensive compared to heavy industry, resulting in a relatively low capital-output ratio.

This is a multi-agency scheme aimed at promoting reasearch and development works in the agriculture sector. Allocation-wise, 1010 per cent of the works ate performed by the NGOs. PRIs, corporate sector. etc. 

Ans - FOOD CROPS

Rice is the most cultivated crop in India. India is the world's second-largest producer of rice. producction of rice in the year 2019 is 117.47 million tonnes

Agricultural income in India is largely exempt from direct income tax, and the revenue collected from other agricultural taxes is minimal compared to total government revenue.

India is largely self-sufficient in food production, and agricultural imports represent a small fraction of the total import bill, which is dominated by oil, gold, and electronics.

Since independence, agricultural production in India has seen significant growth due to the Green Revolution and improved farming practices, increasing by more than three times.

The benefits of the Green Revolution and modern agricultural technology were initially concentrated in regions with good irrigation, leaving a large portion of the country's cropped area without these benefits.

India's agricultural grading and standardization infrastructure is relatively weak and uneven. While some facilities exist under AGMARK and other schemes, coverage is limited, enforcement is inconsistent, and many markets lack standardized quality assessment. Most agricultural transactions occur with minimal formal grading, particularly in local mandis.

Indian agricultural markets have historically suffered from various malpractices, including underweighing of produce and the imposition of unauthorized fees and taxes by intermediaries.

Farmers are often forced to sell at low prices due to immediate cash needs caused by heavy debt and a lack of transport facilities to reach better markets.

Modernization in agriculture refers to the transition from traditional labor-intensive methods to technology-driven methods, primarily through increased mechanization.

At present, in terms of agricultural production, the country holds the second position all over the world being one of the largest producer of commercial crops like Rice, Wheat, Cotton, Jute, Tea etc. 

Indian agricultural sector being the most influencing economic sector in terms of resources and coverage employs about 52% of the entire manpower of the economy which accounts for around 253 million workers under the agricultural sector.

After independence there was a slow growth in the agricultural sector owing to:

NAP means National Agricultural Policy which was a document released by the Government of Indian in 2000 that aimed at achieving an agricultural production growth rate in excess of 4 percent every subsequent year, based on the efficient use of resources, and a sustainable and equitable manner.

All export and import-related performance is governed by the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), which is intended at enhancing the country's exports and use trade development as effective implementation of monetary growth and employment generation. 

In other words, the main objective of the Exim Policy is to speed up the economy from a low level of economic activities to a high level of economic activities by making it a worldwide orient animated economy and to get maximum benefits from expanding global market opportunities.

 Thus, the correct option is D.

The area under irrigation has increased over the years in India, because it has increased to $40$% of the gross cropped area.

This statement is correct that at present, income tax revenues from the agriculture sector are nil or negligible. Others are wrong because under zamindari system, farmers will pay revenue to state with the help of zamindar and commercial banks are providing loan to the all sector, including agriculture at lower rates not at zero percent.

Modernization of agriculture involves a combination of technological inputs (seeds, fertilizers), improved farming practices, and a shift in the mindset of farmers toward scientific management.

Agriculture plays a major role in the overall development of the economy. Agriculture can be defined as the primary sector of the Indian economy. Agricultural sector is reponsible for providing employment to the 70% population of the country.

Agriculture sector can help in solving problems of urban congestion and pollution in urban areas. While all other sectors like, service sector, industrial and banking sector are responsible for adding up the problem of urban congestion and pollution in urban areas. Agriculture helps to maintain a sustainable environment.

Capital output ratio is low in agricultural sector. Capital output ratio of agricultural sector implies the agricultural output in terms of the capital invested in the sector. It is quite low in the primary sector of the economy because many people are employed in this sector and the marginal output will increase if some people step back from getting employed in the agricultural sector.

Agriculture is primary occupation in India. Agricultural sector is also known as the primary sector of the economy of India. This sector is responsible for providing employment to the 70% of the population of the country according to the 2011 census.